Complete Networking Fundamentals Course: CCNA Start vs GRE Math Prep Course: The A–Z on GRE Math Topic by Topic

The course spans approximately 79.5 hours of video across all core CCNA 200-301 domains, covering networking fundamentals, OSI and TCP/IP models, IP addressing and subnetting, routing (static routes, OSPF, EIGRP, IPv6), switching, VLANs, Spanning Tree, NAT, ACLs, wireless technologies, QoS, VoIP, and network automation. Reviewers on Reddit and course aggregator sites consistently describe it as "one of the most comprehensive networking courses I have ever seen for the price" and praise its logical, ground-up progression. The course includes GNS3 and Packet Tracer lab demonstrations, cheat sheets, quizzes, and downloadable resources, though a small number of reviewers note it should be supplemented with additional practice exam resources for full 200-301 readiness.

David Bombal holds CCIE #11023 Emeritus, which he earned on his first attempt in January 2003 — a distinction achieved by a very small percentage of Cisco engineers. He has over 20 years of network training experience, has trained engineers at Fortune 100 companies, holds Cisco and HPE certified instructor status, and has over 2 million YouTube subscribers. Reviewers consistently praise his teaching methodology for the care put into scope and learning progression, with one Reddit user describing the course as the result of someone who "invested significant effort into what needs to be learned and in what order." His credentials are regularly cited as a reason students trust the material.

The course is consistently available on Udemy for $11–$20 during the platform's frequent sales, which Reddit reviewers repeatedly highlight as exceptional value. One r/homelab user who purchased it for $13.99 called it "the best purchase I made of thousands I've spent on my homelab over the years." Another r/linuxadmin commenter noted paying "a whopping $11.99" for "one of the most comprehensive networking courses I have ever seen." With nearly 80 hours of content, lifetime access, 18 articles, 124 downloadable resources, and regular updates to keep pace with the CCNA 200-301 exam blueprint, the cost-per-hour ratio is among the lowest of any CCNA prep course on the market.

David Bombal explicitly designs the course for both exam preparation and real-world application — the curriculum covers actual device configuration on simulated Cisco routers and switches via Packet Tracer and GNS3, not just definitions and theory. Reddit discussions in r/homelab, r/linuxadmin, and r/ccna note that the course teaches concepts in a way that applies directly to home labs and enterprise networking jobs, not just to passing an exam. The practical emphasis on configuration, VLANs, routing protocols, and troubleshooting scenarios means graduates are better prepared for entry-level network engineering roles, not just the Cisco certification exam.

The course's integration of GNS3 and Packet Tracer labs throughout the curriculum is the most consistently praised retention element — learners build and configure simulated networks rather than passively watching lectures. Multiple Reddit reviewers credit the hands-on component with making the course worthwhile for both CCNA candidates and general networking enthusiasts. The course length of ~79.5 hours is frequently described as thorough but potentially overwhelming for learners with time constraints, and some reviewers note the instructor's delivery can occasionally be hard to follow during dense technical sections. Overall, the lab-heavy format gives it stronger retention than purely lecture-driven alternatives.

The course is a tightly-organised library of 240 worked GRE quant solutions across ~13 hours, taught topic by topic from the absolute basics up through harder material like probability. Reviewers consistently praise the clear, step-by-step breakdowns and the memorable mnemonic devices (the "Beyonce Rule" is the one people quote back). The recurring content caveat is that it is purely solution walkthroughs — there are no embedded original practice questions, so the "content" is teaching, not testing.

Olu Sanya is the strongest part of the package. A Morehouse/Georgia Tech Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering graduate with 14+ years of test-prep experience, he is repeatedly described as engaging, patient and good at making a nervous student feel math is learnable. His stated philosophy — "it's not difficult, you just don't know it yet" — shows up in the teaching, and the free 1-hour Skype session he offers is a rare personal touch at this price.

List price is around $70 but the course is almost always on sale in the $10-20 band with lifetime access, plus a free formula-sheet PDF and a bonus Skype session — genuinely cheap versus Magoosh, Manhattan or Target Test Prep. The honest deduction is that you are required to buy Barron's 6 GRE Practice Tests separately to actually use the videos, so the true out-of-pocket cost is higher than the headline, and independent reviewers note Barron's is not the best-regarded practice source.

The weakest dimension by a wide margin and the one every critical source agrees on. The course contains no independent practice questions, no quizzes and no full-length tests — it is built entirely around explaining problems from an external Barron's book you must purchase yourself. BrightLink Prep is blunt that "there are no practice exercises crucial to forming a solid understanding," and points out Barron's is a questionable choice versus official ETS material.

Learners credit the method with building confidence and giving them concrete strategies for question types they previously froze on, and the topic-by-topic mastery approach maps well onto how GRE quant is structured. But because the course supplies no practice and no full-length mocks, score movement depends entirely on the learner doing the external Barron's (and ideally official ETS) practice on top — the videos teach the how, not the timed reps.